Mungo MacCallum

Born in Sydney in 1941, our venerable political correspondent spent almost 20 years in the Canberra press gallery, where he worked for just about every press, radio and television outlet in the nation and a few overseas. He is most famous (or notorious) for his years with Nation Review, sometimes remembered as Australia’s first attempt at Gonzo journalism. He also covered several series of test cricket for the Australian Financial Review.

He moved to the north coast in 1988, where he indulges his other interests: body surfing, bushwalking, travel, gardening, theatre, sport and cooking. When not lunching, he is usually writing a book, 11 of which have been published. His partner is the videomaker Jenny Garrett; their annual St Mungo’s Day party has become a local legend. Between them they have four daughters and two grandchildren. Mungo continues to deny that he is more than semi-retired:

I once was an over-achiever
A true journalistic believer
But now I relax
With a phone and a fax
And a large curly-coated retriever.